Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by the Subanen Tribe of Lapuyan, Zamboanga Del Sur

Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences Bull. Env. Pharmacol. Life Sci., Vol 5 [5] April 2016: 53-67 ©Academy for Environment and Life Sciences, India Online ISSN 2277-1808 Journal’s URL:http://www.bepls.com CODEN: BEPLAD Global Impact Factor 0.533 Universal Impact Factor 0.9804 ORIGINAL ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by the Subanen Tribe of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur

Jhoan Rhea L. Pizon1, Olga M. Nuñeza1, Mylene M. Uy2, WTPSK Senarath3 1-Department of Biological Sciences, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Iligan City, 9200 Philippines. 2-Department of Chemistry, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Iligan City, 9200 Philippines. 3-Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Ethnobotanical documentation was conducted in the Municipality of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. This was done through informal interviews, walk-through interviews, and focus group discussions with seven selected healers of the Subanen tribe. There were 89 medicinal plant species documented belonging to 39 genera under 41 families. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part which were prepared through decoction and taken internally. Respiratory- related diseases are the most common ailments that the Subanen tribe encountered. It appears that there is a need to conserve the important medicinal plants especially those that are rarely encountered species. Moreover, further pharmacological tests need to be undertaken to prove the efficiency and potency of the plants as medicine. Keywords: conservation, decoction, efficiency, healers, pharmacological tests.

Received 02.02.2016 Revised 14.02.2016 Accepted 10.03.2016

INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants have become a topic of global importance making an impact on both world health and international trade [1, 2]. Camacho et al. [3] reported that Filipinos of the olden times use herbal plants as treatment for different ailments long before the introduction of Western practice of healing. Popular knowledge of usage of plants by humans is said to be on thousand years of experience wherein people have recognized and utilize medicinal plants including magico-religious function through trial and error [4]. Traditional knowledge plays a vital role in the daily lives of people in many areas of the world [5]. It is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. Traditional medicine has been practiced since long ago throughout the world and is mostly influenced by superstitions, myths, religion, and herbalism [6]. In the Philippines, indigenous groups have depended on their traditional knowledge for them to survive in an ever changing world. Even before civilization, tribes in their respective areas have long used their indigenous knowledge about their environment and nature in dealing with their daily activities and source of living for survival [7]. Approximately, there are 110 indigenous communities in the Philippines and more than 170 ethnolinguistic groups in the country and among these are the Subanens [6]. The Subanen tribe is the major occupant of the town of Lapuyan and the culture and practices are well- preserved up to now through family lines or inheritance [6, 8]. The Subanen tribe calls the medicinal plants as “bulung” and they believe that these plants have spirits that should be valued and respected [9]. Rapid loss of plant biodiversity and genetic resources, traditional, and ethnobotanical knowledge are some of the problems encountered by the Subanen tribe. Knowledge on herbal plants is rapidly declining since young generations know less or nothing at all on the utilization and importance of the medicinal plants. These problems make it urgent that people learn as much as possible before old remedies are forgotten or plant sources are destroyed due to technology. Realizing the continuous erosion in the

BEPLS Vol 5 [5] April 2016 53 | P a g e ©2016 AELS, INDIA Pizon et al knowledge of many important medicinal plants, there is then the need to review valuable information for the development of the medicinal plant sector. Ethnobotanical knowledge must be documented before it vanished forever [11]. Thus, the study was conducted to document the knowledge or information and the utilization of indigenous herbal plants used by the Subanen tribe in the Municipality of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. The findings of this study would provide a database for future research and potential resource for the development of plant-based drugs through isolation and characterization of bioactive phytochemicals present in the plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in the municipality of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur (Figure 1). Lapuyan was selected because of the following criteria: presence of traditional healers; willingness and the capacity of the community to participate; most of the people living in the area are Subanen; and the use of medicinal plants in healing [6]. Prior to the conduct of the study, permits were obtained from the Mayor and Tribal Leaders.

Figure 1. Map of the Municipality of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur (https://maps.google.com.ph/, 2015).

Several courtesy calls to municipality officials, school heads, purok leaders, known relatives and neighbors of healers were made to pinpoint the healers who are actively practicing traditional medicine. The survey followed the protocol of Elago et al. [6] with modifications. In-depth and walk-through interviews as well as focus group discussions were employed in the survey. The respondents were interviewed regarding the local names of medicinal plants that they are using, type of ailments, the plant parts used, method of preparation and application. These were followed by the validation of data.

RESULTS Tables 1a nd 1b show a complete overview on the plants documented including the parts used, preparation and mode of application, and the medicinal uses.

Table 1a. Medicinal Plants Used by the Subanen tribe of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. Plant Preparation Subanen Scientific Name English Name Tagalog Name Part/s and Medicinal Uses Name Used Application Annonaceae Friesodielsa latifolia (Hook Wash a small - - Mhemot balu Roots Prevents hypertension &Thomson) root and chew. Steeris Pound seven Anona muricata Young leaves and Soursop Guyabano Malabanos Tetanus L. leaves apply around the wound Apiaceae Decoction- Boil Whole plenty of jaong Centellia asiatica Gotu kola - Jaong jaong Diabetes plant jaong with enough water.

Drink 3x a day with or without meal. Stop when blood glucose decreases to normal level Apocynaceae Decoction- Boil enough roots Asclepias with ample Tropical milkweed - Gapas-apas Roots Amoebiasis curassavica (L.) amount of water. Drink as often as needed. Infusion- Scrape the outer layer 7x. Add 1/2 glass of water. Drink twice a day for 3 days. Decoction- Alstonia scholaris White cheese wood Dita Malogatas Trunk Scrape the High blood pressure (L.) outer layer 7x. Boil the scraped pieces with 3 glasses of water. Drink thrice a day for 3 days Juice-Pound enough roots and squeeze Voacanga Thepalak To abate bleeding of a fresh - - Roots and apply the megacarpa Merr. mebagal wound squeezed plant material on the wound Araceae Slice, pound, Alocasia and apply on macrorrhizos (L.) Elephant ear - Biga Rhizome Early stage of inflammation the affected G.Don part. Homalomena Slice into rubescens (Roxb.) - Alipayo Phayaw Stem pieces, pound, Cold Kunth and smell often. Araliaceae Decoction- Scrape stem 7x downward. Boil Osmoxylon - - Gulo-ulo Stem with enough Dysmenorrhea,Mennorhagia diversifolium water. Drink 1/2 glass thrice a day for 3 days. Arecaceae Cut stem, gather juice, and apply Shingles caused by Herpes Calamus sp. - - Dlebie Juice on the wound zoster often. Asparagaceae Cordyline Eat the leaf Tungkod- fruticosa (L.) A. Good luck plant Guilala Young leaf often until High blood pressure pare Chev. needed. Asteraceae Juice - Pound young leaves. Squeeze the Chromolaena Young Siam weed Hagunoy Gunoy juice and apply Fresh wound odorata (L.) leaves on the area. Repeat for 3 days. Bignoniaceae

- Pound enough Oroxylum indicum Indian Young leaves and add (L.) Benth. ex Trumpet Bnenloy leaves little amount of Body pain, fever Kurz flower water. Put on the head. Decoction- Boil enough size Phelebonaya with ample Diabetes, High blood pressure, Radermachera sp - - Trunk n amount of Cough water. Drink often. Cucurbitaceae Heat over low Momordica Bitter gourd Ampalaya Palya Fruit fire. Eat as Diabetes charantia L. needed. Heat enough leaves until Luffa acutangula Sponge gourd Patola Tikwa Leaves burnt. Apply Early stage of inflammation Roxb. and change when dry. Dilleneaceae Decoction- Boil seven leaves Dillenia with 1 1/2 glass Elephant philippinensis Katmon Dlhembog Leaves of water. Once Diarrhea and vomiting apple Rolfe lukewarm, drink a half glass once Euphorbiaceae Scrape the trunk thrice or seven times and Melanolepsis apply the multiglandulosa - Alim Ghalem Trunk Itchiness scraped plant Rchb. & Zoll. material into the affected area. Decoction- Boil with 3 glasses Euphorbia hirta Cat's hair , Whole of water until 1 Tawa-tawa Tematik Recurring fever L. Asthma plant plant glass is left. Drink once or twice a day. Euphorbia hirta Cat's hair , Tawa-tawa Tematik Juice Apply often Cracked heels L. Asthma plant Use a thin Breynia cernva section of the - - Thetulog Stem Toothache prevention (Poir.) Mull. Arg. stem as a toothpick Pound handful of leaves. Breynia cernva - - Thetulog Squeeze the Open wound (Poir.) Mull. Arg. juice on the affected area. Juice and Poultice- Collect enough juice/ sap from the Physic nut Tubang- stem using a Toothache, Jatropha curcas L. tree bakod Tuba-tuba Leaves cotton and put Diarrhea and vomiting, Ulcer, on the hole of Spasm the affected tooth or gum. Remove when pain subsides. Infusion- Scrape the inner part Tubang- Diarrhea and vomiting, Ulcer, Jatropha curcas L. Physic nut Tuba-tuba Juice and add hot bakod Spasm tree water. Drink until needed.

Tubang- Put 3 leaves on bakod the area. Physic nut Young Always change Jatropha curcas L. Tuba-tuba Back pain tree leaves when the leaves are already dried. Fabaceae Juice- Scrape trunk 3x and squeeze the Afzelia rhomboidea Malacca- juice. Apply on - Glonghigi Trunk To get rid of lice (Blanco) Vidal teak the head after shampoo. Leave for half an hour. Rinse. Decoction- Boil with water and Flemingia strobilifera take regularly. Wild hops Panapanarahan Kolipes Roots Tuberculosis (L.) W. F. Alton Taking fresh water is prohibited. Decoction- Pound enough roots and boil Flemingia strobilifera Wild hops Panapanarahan Kolipes Roots with 1/2 glass Diabetes (L.) W. T. Alton of water. Drink thrice a day for 3 days. Pound 7 leaves Flemingia strobilifera and apply on Wild hops Panapanarahan Kolipes Leaves Inflammation (L.) W. T. Alton the inflamed area. Apply on the Mimosa pudica L. Sensitive plant Makahiya Selompatay Roots Toothache tooth Pound plenty leaves and Derris elliptica (Wall.) Tuba root Tubli Thoba Leaves apply until Itchiness Benth. itchiness subsides. Infusion- Scrape the trunk 7x and boil with Sesbania grandiflora West indian pea Katuray Thori Trunk enough water. Diarrhea (L.) Pers. Drink the infusion often until well. Graminae Decoction- Boil handful of roots Imperata cylindrica with a glass of (Linn.) Beauv. var. Cogon grass Kogon Gegi Roots water. Drink High blood pressure Koenigii (Retz.) Benth thrice a day after meal for 3 days. Decoction- Boil Eleusine indica (L.) Goose with enough Paragis Shelapid Roots “Pagan” Gaertn grass roots and drink often. Get 2 leaves. Tie each leaf Eleusine indica (L.) Goose Practice after giving birth for Paragis Shelapid Leaves around each Gaertn grass prevention from relapse thumb of the toe. Eat frequently. Do not drink Saccharum officinale L. Sugar cane Tubo Thebu Stem Hyperacidity water afterwards Eat the Saccharium violaceium Thebu Sugar cane Tubo Stem stem/fruit Hepatitis Tussac menubo often.

Lemon grass Decoction- Boil several stems Cymbopogon citratus with enough Tanglad Thenlad Stem High blood pressure (DC.) Stapf water. Drink thrice a day for 3 days. Lamiaceae Pound enough Young leaves and Coleus aromaticus and/or squeeze the Oregano Suganda Gliganu Children’s cough Benth. mature juice. Give 1/2 leaves tsp to a child twice a day Pound and Five-leaved Young extract the Vitex negundo L. Lagundi Lagundi Cough chaste tree leaves juice. Drink 1 tbs often. Decoction- Boil enough leaves Five-leaved Young Vitex negundo L. Lagundi Lagundi with enough Cough chaste tree leaves water. Drink regularly. Liliaceae Decoction- Slice into 7 piece and boil with 3 Kidney trouble, Internal Lilium sp. - - Niyog-niyog Bulb glasses of illness, Tuberculosis, Vomits water. Drink the blood decoction often until needed. Allium cepa L. Onion Sibuyas Sibuyas Leaves Poultice Oral thrush Malvaceae Pound 7 leaves Ceiba pentandra (L.) Silk cotton tree and apply on Kapok Kapok Leaves Inflammation Gaertn. , Kapok tree the inflamed area. Poultice- Scrape the trunk thrice, put on the Pterocymbium - Taloto Thelloto Trunk wound and Fresh wound tinctorium Merr. secure with a bandage or cloth Meliaceae Infusion- Scrape the trunk 3x and put 3/4 glass water and Lansium domesticum let it stay for Hypertension/ High blood Langsat Lansones Buwahan Trunk Correa half an hour. pressure Drink 3x a day with or without meal. Do this as needed. Pound enough Tinospora rumphii Makabu size of the stem Heavenly elixir Patawali Stem Itchiness Boerl. hay and apply several times Moraceae Put 3 leaves on the forehead. Ficus sp. - - Menaol Leaves Always change Fever when the leaves are already dry. Poultice- Pound, apply Ficus benjamina L. Weeping fig Balete Nunok Trunk Sprain and secure with a cloth Infusion-Scrape Ficus heteropoda Miq - - Thetanek Trunk Tuberculosis the trunk many

times and put in a glass of water. Take the infusion regularly. Infusion- Soak small slices in a glass of water Ficus heteropoda Miq - - Thetanek Trunk Antibiotic after bleeding for several minutes. Drink only once. Musaceae Heat a small portion of the Musa textilis Nee Manila hemp Abaka Abaka Stem stem and roll Paralysis over on the paralyzed part. Wrap around Young the child’s body. High grade fever- Musa sapientum Banana Saging Saging leaves Change when children dry. Musa sapientum L. var. Eat including Banana Latundan Solibadyu Fruit Heart failure cinerea (Blco.) Teod. the fiber Pound plenty leaves and Musa sapientum L. var. Banana Saging Solibadyu Leaves apply on the Shingles cinerea (Blco.) Teod. affected part often. Myrtaceae Decoction- Boil plenty leaves with enough water and use Psidium guajava L. Guava Bayabas Bayabas Leaves Wound the decoction to wash the wound as needed. Wash the inner part and eat until needed.

Syzgium malaccense Malay apple Makopa Tual Trunk Chew a portion Cough (L.) of the inner part of the trunk. Swallow the juice. Oxalidaceae Spread and mix leaves with the seedlings prior to planting. Biophytum sensitivum Ritual on planting and - - Guyengham Leaves (L.) DC Spread the harvesting rice leaves all over the field and crops prior to harvest. Piperaceae Heat 5 leaves over low fire Piper betle L. Betel Ikmo Thalon Leaves and apply on Cough the back and chest Decoction- Boil 3 pieces 7 inches roots Spiked Thalon- with enough Piper aduncum L. - Roots Toothache pepper thalon water. Gargle some and drink the remaining. Do this as

needed.

Pound and squeeze the Spiked Thalon- Young Piper aduncum L. - juice on the Fresh wound pepper thalon leaves wound only once Pound leaves ,mix with lime Thalon powder and Piper interruptum - - Leaves Ringworm gekbek apply on the affected area often Rubiaceae Decoction- Scrape the Psychotria velutina inner part and - - Dlebalud Trunk Hemmorhage Elmer boil with water. Drink until the bleeding stops. Wash a small root and eat. Psychotria velutina Repeat the - - Dlebalud Roots Hemmorhage Elmer procedure until the bleeding stops Schizaeaeceae Wash roots and Lygodium sp. - - Nitoan miha Roots “Pagan” eat regularly. Heat enough leaves until Selaginella delicatula Severe wound on the breast, - - Dendunay Leaves burnt. Apply (Desv. ex. Poir.) Shingles powder around the wound. Smilaceae Decoction- Boil Sarsaparilla with enough Smilax bracteata Presl. - Banag Roots “Pagan” vine roots and drink often. Solanaceae Heat the seeds in a pot covered with coconut shell with a hole. Sip the Datura metel L. Thorn apple Katsubong Gintelong Seeds fume through a Toothache straw and spit on a paper afterwards. Do this several times. Urticaceae Eat a small Leucosyke capitellata - - Glombilan Stem portion until Cough (Poir) Wedd. needed Verbenaceae Pound 3 young leaves and apply directly Stachytarpheta Bastard Kandila Young Wound after being Dlompereng on the wound. jamaicensis (L.) Vahl. vervain kandilaan leaves circumcised Always change the poultice when dry. Put 3 leaves on Young the area. Gmelina arborea Roxb. Gmelina - Gemelina Back pain leaves Always change when dried Zingeberaceae

Luyang dilaw Infusion-Soak rhizomes in a lukewarm Dluya Curcuma longa Turmeric Rhizome water. Apply Arthritis thembaga the infusion on the affected part. Resurrec Kaempferia galanga L. Gisol Gisol Rhizome Poultice Deeply punctured tion lily Decoction- Boil 2 glasses of Costus speciosus Spiral ginger - Tiwasi Leaves leaves with Cough, Diabetes (J. Koenig) Sm. ample water. Drink often.

Table 1b. List of medicinal plants the Subanen tribe uses in combination with other herbal plants Scientific Name Family Local/ Subanen Plant Part/s Preparation and Medicinal Name Used Application Uses Infusion- Gather enough bark measuring 10 inches long and 5 inches wide and 5-10 inches roots. 1. Friesodielsia latifolia Slice into small pieces. 1. Annonaceae 1. Mhemot balu (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis Roots Add ample amount of tap Dysmenorrhea 2. Solanaceae 2. Ghebul gusa 2. Solanum cumingii water and let it stay until change in color is observed. Drink the infusion regularly for 3 consecutive nights. 1. Friesodielsia latifolia (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis 1. Annonaceae 1. Mhemot balu 1. Roots 2. Alstonia scholaris (L.) Decoction- Boil 10 inches 2. Apocynaceae 2. Malogatas 2. Trunk 3. 3. Radermachera sp. long and 5 inches wide 3. Bignoniaceae 3.Phelobenayan Roots 4. 4. Flemingia strobilifera (L.) bark and 5-10 inches roots 4. Fabaceae 4. Kolipes Roots Cancer W.F. Alton in an ample amount of 5. Moraceae 5. Busyong 5. Trunk 5. Ficus botryocarpa Miq. var. water. Drink 1/2 glass 6. Solanaceae 6. Thelong Subanen 6. Roots botryocarpa often. 7. Urticaceae 7. Dlingeting 7. Roots 6. Solanum sp. 7. Laportea sp. 1. Areca catechu L 2. Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A.Chev. 1. Arecaceae 1. Maan 1. Fruit 2. Slice the fruit of maan and 3. Scleria scrobiculata Nees 2. Asparagaceae 2. Guila la Roots 3. the roots 7 times and and Meyen 4. 3. Cyperaceae 3. Thelid Roots 4. wrap in a thelon leaf. Chew "Bulong Pagan" Urena lobata L. 4. Malvaceae 4. Dlelupang Roots 5. and spit the chewed 5. Donax cannaeformis (G. 5. Manantaceae 5. Bemban Roots residue into the patient. Forst.) K 6. Piperaceae 6. Thelon 6.Leaves 6. Piper betle L 1. Friesodielsia latifolia Decoction- Boil enough 1. Annonaceae 2. 1. Mhemot balu 1. Roots (Hook.f. & Thomson) Steenis roots with ample amount Hypertension Arecaceae 2. Shelawag 2. Roots 2. Pinanga insignis Becc. of water. Drink often. Infusion- Add enough hot water to enough parts mentioned. Drink as many 1. Mangifera indica L. 1.Anacardiaceae 1. Mangga (native) 1. Roots 2. as often 2. Alstonia scholaris (L.) 2. Apocynaceae 2.Malogatas Trunk 3. Hepatitis 3. Morinda citrifolia L. 3. Rubiaceae 3. Galig Roots Decoction- Boil enough 4. Arcangelisia flava L 4.Menispermaceae 4. Lethang 4.Leaves parts mentioned with sufficient water. Drink as many often.

1. Justicia gendarussa Burm F. 1. Acanthaceae 1.Selimbangon Put the leaves on the Anti- 2. Cratoxylum sumatranum Young leaves 2. Hypericaceae 2.Phenggulingan forehead. convulsant (Jack) Blume

1. Justicia gendarussa Burm F. 1. Acanthaceae 1. Selimbangon Decoction- Boil enough 2. Friesodielsa latifolia (Hook Roots "Pagan" 2. Annonaceae 2. Mhemot balu clean roots. Drink often. & Thomson) Steenis 1. Areca catechu L. 2. 1. Arecaceae 1. Maan 1. Fruit Slice the roots and the Early stage of Piper betle L. 2. Piperaceae 2. Thalon 2. Leaf fruit into small pieces and cancer 3. Selaginella delicatula (Desv. 3. Schizaeaeceae 3. Dendunay 3. Roots wrap them with a leaf.

ex. Poir.) Add lime, get a little portion, and chew properly. Massage in a circular manner around the breast without connecting the starting and the end points. Spit the residue on the affected area. Do this regularly. 1. Osmoxylon diversifolium Poultice- Pound leaves, 1. Araliaceae 1. Gulo-ulo To reduce 2. Flemingia strobilifera (L.) wrap with a banana leaf, 2. Fabaceae 2. Kolipes Young leaves internal W.F. Alton heat over low fire and 2. Malvaceae 2. Kapok inflammation 2. Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. apply. 1. Asclepias curassavica L. 1. Apocynaceae 1. Gapas-apas 1. Roots Decoction - Boil with Leukemia, 2. Morinda citrifolia L. 2. Rubiaceae 2. Galig 2. Trunk water, drink as often Hepatitis 1. Friesodielsa latifolia (Hook Slice the fruit and roots 7x 1. Annonaceae f. & Thomson) Steenis 1. Mhemot balu 1. Roots into smaller pieces and 2. Arecaceae 2. Areca catechu L. 2. Maan 2. Fruit w r ap with a Piper betle L. 3. Cyperaceae "Bulong Pigis" 3. Scleria scrobiculata Nees 3. Thelid 3. Roots leaf. Add lime powder,

and Meyen 4. Thelon 4. Leaf chew. Spit the residue to 4. Piperaceae 4. Piper betle L. the patient. 1. Young Poultice-Slightly pound 1. Osmoxylon diversifolium 1. Araliaceae 1. Gulo-ulo leaves 2. the leaves, add little salt, 2. Flemingia strobilifera (L.) 2. Fabaceae 2. Kolipes 3. Young leaves wrap with a banana leaf, Mayoma, W.F. Alton 3. Malvaceae Kapok 4. 3. Young and heat over low fire for Cancer 3. Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. 4. Musaceae Saging leaves few minutes. Apply on the 4. Musa sapientum L. 4.Mature leaf area. Make a necklace out of the 1. Homalomena philippinensis 1. Araceae 1. Phayaw thin outer layer of stem Engl. 2. Stem Colds-children 2. Urticaceae 2. Glombilan and put around the child's Leucosyke capitellata Wedd. neck. 1. Voacanga megacarpa Merr. 1. Apocynaceae 1. Thepalak Scrape the trunk 7x and Trunk Inflammation 2. Morinda citrifolia . L 2. Rubiaceae 2. Galig apply directly on the area. Decoction- Boil and wash 1. Blumea balasamifera D.C. 1. Asteraceae 1. Dlebulan To avoid Mature leaves the body with a lukewarm 2. Zingiber officinale L. 2. Zingeberaceae 2. Dluya varicose vein decoction before sleeping. 1. Homalomena philippinensis Make a necklace out of the 1. Araceae 2. 1. Phayaw Engl. 2. Stem thin outer layer and wear Colds-children Euphorbiaceae 2. Dlegasi Jatropha gossipifolia L. on the child's neck. 1. Anona muricata L. 1. Annonaceae 1. Malabanos Pound and apply directly 2. Mycetia javanica Reinw. Young leaves Rabies 2. Rubiaceae 2. Ghiboyen on the area ex.Korth Decoction- Boil to attain 1. Cordia dichotoma Forst. f. 1. Boraginaceae 1. Nonang 1. Trunk strong decoction. Drink “Pagan” 2. Homonoia riparia Lour 2.Euphorbiaceae 2. Mhemagos tubig 2. Roots 1/2 glass of decoction often. 1. Cordia dichotoma Forst. f. 1. Boraginaceae 1. Nonang 1. Trunk 2.. Caesalpinia sappan L. 2. Fabaceae 2. Sibukaw 2 . Trunk Decoction - Boil and drink 3. Saccharum violaceum Tuberculosis 3. Graminae 3 . Thebu menubo 3.Stem often for 3 days Tussac 4. 4. Musaceae 4. Thedyaw pula 4.Roots Musa sp. Infusion- Scrape the inner 1. Jatropha curcas L. 1.Euphorbiaceae 1. Tuba-tuba 1. Stem 2. part, add enough water, Amoebiasis 2. Sesbania grandiflora L. 2. Fabaceae 2. Thori Trunk and drink as water. 1. Melanolepsis Poultice- Scrape inner multiglandulosa Rchb.& Zoll. portion, squeeze the juice 2. Azfelia rhomboidea (Blanco) 1.Euphorbiaceae 1. Ghalem and spread on the area in Vidal 2. Fabaceae 2. Glonghigi Trunk a downward direction. Scabies 3. Donax cannaeformis (G. 3.Manantaceae 3. Bemban Wrap in a cloth, soak in Forst) 4. Moracae 4. Nopol hot water and massage on 4. Poikilospermum suaveolens the area. (Blume) Merr. 1. Mimosa pudica L. 1. Fabaceae 2. 2. Biophytum sensitivum (L.) 1. Selompatay Hang the shoots on the To stop an Oxalidaceae DC 2. Guyengham Shoot hammock or put under the infant from 3.Phyllantha 3. Breynia cernva (Poir.) Mull. 3. Thetulog infant’s pillow. crying ceae Arg.

1. Fabaceae Decoction- Pound leaves 1. Flemingia strobilifera (L.) 2. Lamiaceae 1. Roots 2. and boil with roots with 1. Kolipes W.F. Alton 3. Urticaceae Young and/or enough water. Drink 1/3 2. Gliganu Cough 2. Coleus aromaticus Benth. mature leaves glass a day. Eat small 3. Glombilan 3. Leucosyke capitellata Wedd. 3. Trunk portion of sliced trunk often. 1. Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wiezer 1. Young 1. Fabaceae 1. Bana Pound and apply on the Pulls out deep 2. Zingiber zerumbet (L.) leaves 2. Zingeberaceae 2. Thembak area puncture Smith 2. New shoot 1. Persea americana Mill. 1. Lauraceae 1. Abokado 1. Trunk Infusion - Scrape, put in a Gaertn. 2. Citrus 2. Rutaceae 2. Buongon 2. Trunk glass, add hot water, and Diarrhea decumana L. 3. 3. Sapotaceae 3. Star apple 3. Trunk drink until diarrhea stops. Crysophyllum cainito L. 1. Lansium domesticum Correa 1. Meliaceae 1. Buwahan Decoction- Boil with 2. Citrus aurantiifolia Young leaves 2. Rutaceae 2. Gasem ample water, drink until Stomachache (Christm.) Swingle and trunk 3. Sapotaceae 3. Star apple the pain disappears. 3. Chrysophyllum cainito L. 1. Lansium domesticum Correa 1. Meliaceae 1. Buwahan Decoction- Boil with 2. Citrus aurantiifolia Young leaves 2. Rutaceae 2. Gasem ample water and drink Stomachache (Christm.) Swingle and trunk 3. Sapotaceae 3. Star apple until the pain disappears 3. Chrysophyllum cainito L. Decoction- Boil roots (the length depends on the 1. Syzgium cuminii 1. Myrtaceae 1. Lumboy number of letters of the 2. Citrus decumana L. Roots Diarrhea 2. Rutaceae 2. Buongon patient’s name, 1 letter is

1 inch) with water and drink gradually. Decoction- Boil handful of dluya thembaga and half a 1. Curcuma longa 1. Dluya thembaga Zingeberaceae Rhizome handful of gisol's rhizome Goiter 2. Kaempferia galanga L. 2. Gisol with an ample amount of water. Drink gradually Total No. of Family- 41, Total No. of Genus-39, Total No. of Species- 89

Traditional Use of Herbal Plants Based on the data recorded, medicinal plants are used to treat the most common or prevalent ailments which are the respiratory-related diseases such as cough, cold, and tuberculosis. This is followed by circulatory system-related diseases (such as hypertension and heart problems), cuts and wounds, gastro- intestinal disorders (diarrhea, diarrhea with or without vomiting, stomachache, and amoebiasis), and muscle discomfort. Other diseases indicated are diabetes, dermatological problems, toothache, kidney problems, cancer, and inflammations. Some plants are also used to treat local ailments such as “pagan” and “pigis”. “Pagan” is most common to women after child birth. This is described by the tribe as cause of doing and carrying heavy chores and loads after giving birth. This is characterized by chills, severe fever, and headache, weakness of the body, and body pain. “Pigis is described as sudden feeling of illness, nauseous, body pain, and stomachache. This is believed to be caused by an accidental contact with the unseen elements. In addition, the Subanen also used plants for healing rituals and practices such as during planting and harvesting of rice where the leaves of “guyengham” are spread and mixed with the seedlings prior to planting. Similarly, the leaves of “guyengham” are spread all over the crops prior to harvest.

Plant Parts Used Based on the survey, the leaves (30%) are the most frequently used plant part for herbal medicine (Figure 2). This is followed by stem/ trunk (28%), roots (28 %), fruits and seeds (4 %), rhizomes/ bulbs (4 %), juice/ sap (4%) , and whole plant (1%). This result suggests that the continuous utilization of the stem/trunk and roots, although only small portions are utilized can lead to over utilization if not given attention.

Figure 2. Plant Parts Utilized by the Subanen of Lapuyan.

Preparation Methods The preparation and application vary based on the type of ailment treated. There were eight types of preparations recorded (Figure 3). Decoction (30%) was the most employed preparation, followed by pounding (20%), chewing (13%), gathering or picking of plant parts applied directly (13%), infusion (10%), preheating (6%), and poultice (4%).

Figure 3. Methods of Preparation of the Medicinal Plants.

Mode of Administration The prepared herbal plant materials are administered internally or externally depending on the plant species and type of ailment. Internal administration (51.43%) is more frequently employed than the external application (48.57%). Drinking (40%) is the most commonly used mode of internal application, followed by eating (10%), and chewing and swallowing (2%). In external administration, direct application of plant parts is usually employed where fresh or pounded plant parts are directly applied on the affected area. Smelling, sipping the fume, and as materials for rituals and practices are the least common way of using the medicinal plants. Thus, the most common administration route is oral, followed by cutaneous and the least is nasal administration. Diversity in Growth Forms/ Habit of Medicinal Plants As shown in Figure 4, the total plant species (n=89), 33 species ( 37.08%) used are trees, 20 species are herbs (22.47%), 20 species are shrub (22.47%), nine species are vines (10.11 %), six species are grass (6.74%) , two species are palm, and two species are fern (2.25%).

Figure 4. Plant Habit or Growth Form of the Medicinal Plants

DISCUSSION Traditional knowledge on the utilization of plants is maintained by indigenous societies in the world. Indigenous people are using their traditional knowledge in healing different diseases. Traditionally, tribal communities also rely on shamans or gbelyans who are traditional healers who belong to the same tribe to provide herb lore to heal sickness who they believe to have communication to the world of spirits. There are still many rural areas today having local shamans or gbelyans to help them cure ailments and perform some rituals [12]. They usually opt to use plants in treating diseases since modern medicine and health care services are very expensive nowadays. Various studies have shown that there is an existence of considerable amount and wide varieties of indigenous ethnopharmacological knowledge in the different parts of the world [13]. Many efforts have been made to document and publish traditional knowledge since there is a growing threat on the loss of this knowledge in this modern era. This might be due to the fact that the information on the use of herbal plants has been passed from one generation to the next through oral tradition only. Furthermore, the lack of traditional knowledge of the younger generation makes the knowledge decline and obsolete [14]. The Subanen communities of Lapuyan have been practicing and using traditional knowledge since they believe that plants heal in a very effective way without spending any single centavo. They also believe that plants, like humans, have spirits that must be respected and valued. This belief urges the tribe to utilize plants even more in a useful and less destructing way, which is also due to practicality and economic instability they are facing. Furthermore, because Lapuyan is far from the city proper and has limited access to modern health care services, most of the Subanen people don’t have any option but to rely on the use of traditional medicine. The informants were able to report a total of 89 medicinal plant species (two are ferns) having medicinal values which they use to treat various range of diseases. This number of species recorded demonstrates the depth of the traditional knowledge on indigenous herbal plants and their uses. The 89 species of plants documented comprise 39 genera under 41 families and are mostly represented by Family Fabacae with seven species, followed by Euphorbiaceae with six species, and Graminae and Moraceae both with five plant species. The other families include Acanthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Araceae, Araliaceae, Arecaceae, Asparagaceae, Asteraceae, Bignoniaceae, Boraginaceae, Cucurbutaceae, Cyperaceae, Dilleneaceae, Hypericaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Lilaceae, Malvaceae, Manantaceae, Meliaceae, Menispermaceae, Musaceae, Myrtceae, Oxalidaceae, Piperaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Sapotaceae, Schizaeaeceae, Smilaceae, Solanaceae, Urticaceae, Verbanaceae, and Zingiberaceae. High number of documented species are part of the extraordinarily high floral diversity ranging from 10,000 to 14,000 plant species of vascular and non- vascular plants in the country [15]. The leaves are the most frequently used plant part followed by stem/trunk and roots. The leaves are the most abundant part of the plant that are easier to collect and can also be regenerated [16]. However, the continuous utilization of stem/trunk and roots although only small portions are used can lead to over utilization if not given attention. Importantly, the use of more trees and herbs may hint at the fact that the pressure due to harvesting herbal medicines is significant on plant diversity in the area [13]. The tribe prepared medicine using fresh plant parts through decoction, the most common technique, wherein plants parts are boiled with water and the crude extract is used. Infusion is a method where the plant parts are allowed to be soaked or suspended in water for a certain period of time. Juice extraction is prepared by cutting the succulent parts and the juice or saps are being collected. The chewing method involves plant parts to be chewed and spat or swallowed afterwards. Poultice is a method of preparation where plant parts are pounded and are wrapped with a fresh banana leaf or Piper betle (L.) leaves or

BEPLS Vol 5 [5] April 2016 65 | P a g e ©2016 AELS, INDIA Pizon et al piece of clean cloth before applying to the affected area. Pounding to soften plant parts and extract juice is another method of preparation while preheating is to heat fresh plant parts over low fire before applying to the affected area. Plant parts are also applied directly. Among the eight preparations, decoction was found to be the most widely used preparation (30%). Heating the aqueous extracts is reported to be the most beneficial which might probably be due to the added extracting capacity of active phytoconstituents when heat is applied in the preparation [17]. In the utilization of plants by the Subanen, there is a need to practice sustainable resource management. Moreover, the documentation of this rich knowledge is important and this will play a significant role on the lives of younger generation and to the world of pharmaceuticals for the development of plant-based drugs.

CONCLUSION There are 89 medicinal plant species recorded which the Subanen tribe uses to treat various diseases such as respiratory-related diseases, among others, and are prepared through decoction, infusion, extraction of juice/ sap, chewing of plant parts, poultice, pounding, preheating, and gathering of plant parts. Medicinal plants are either taken internally or externally depending on the type of ailment and the plant species. Moreover, the study showed that the Subanen tribe of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur possesses rich traditional knowledge and healing using medicinal plants continues to be practiced especially by the elders. Furthermore, this ethnobotanical documentation is essential on the preservation of the knowledge which will prevent knowledge degradation due to modernization and will serve as a database for future researches on the development of plant-based drugs. . AKNOWLEDGMENT The authors express their gratitude to DOST-ASTHRDP and DOST-PCIEERD-BCDA for the research grant.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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CITATION OF THIS ARTICLE Pizon J R L, Nuñeza O M, Uy M M, Senarath W T P S K. Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by the Subanen of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. Bull. Env. Pharmacol. Life Sci., Vol 5[5] April 2016: 53-67